Expect your child to reprimand you if you do not exercise your franchise on February 16 for the Mumbai civic polls.
As part of the Children’s Movement of Civic Awareness (CMCA) programme, more than 3,000 children from 34 city schools have written letters to their parents listing reasons why it is important to vote.
“When you as parents wish us good health, wealth and happiness, how can we achieve this if we don’t vote for the right people to look after our basic health in this city? What if they don’t do their jobs well? When you send me to buy something, you ask me for the accounts.Do you ask the BMC also for the accounts of where they have spent your tax money and what has come of it?’’ the letter reads.
Kulraj Bawa, a Class 8 student of Activity High School at Peddar Road, feels his parents should not only be aware about the candidates contesting the polls in their ward, but also vote for the right candidate.
“Often grown ups do not take civic elections seriously and do not do their homework before casting their vote for a particular candidate. Many do not even vote,” said Kulraj, who lives at Marine Lines. “Political apathy is the reason why wrong candidates are getting elected in the government and corruption is on the rise. I want my parents to vote in this election.”
His mother Punita said the letter set her thinking. “Unfortunately, we have no clue who is contesting the polls from our locality. I haven’t seen a single banner or pamphlet. But, such awareness is important for the next generation,” she said.
Schools have also been conducting weekly sessions to make their students “active citizens in a democracy”.
Vinodini Lulla, trustee and Mumbai coordinator of CMCA, said: “We were alarmed by the rising political apathy in the city. So, we decided to create awareness among students to make their aware about the importance of elections at a young age and, in turn, influence their parents.”
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